Sometimes it can take years to find your calling. Not so for Julie Byrne, whose power of lyrical expression and musical nous seems inborn. Her second album, Not Even Happiness, has evolved at its own pace. It spans recollections of bustling roadside diners, the stars over the high desert, the aching weariness of change, the wildflowers of the California coast, and the irresolvable mysteries of love.
Not Even Happiness is Byrne’s beguiling ode to the fringes of life. Two songs named “Best New Track” by Pitchfork. Among many accolades are album of the week from Stereogum and 8/10 from Loud And Quiet.